Pension Credit › How to apply
How to Apply for Pension Credit
Last updated: April 2026 · Reviewed by: Silverwings Benefits Team · Source: GOV.UK
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How to Apply for Pension Credit — we’re filming this explainer now.
Applying for Pension Credit directly with the DWP is free, and there are three ways to do it: by phone, by post, or online. The process itself is straightforward once you have the right information to hand, but the application form does ask for a fair amount of detail about your income, savings and housing costs, which is where people often get stuck or give up partway through.
This page sets out exactly what you need before you start, the three application routes, and what happens after you apply. We are also building a guided application service to make this easier — see the note on that below.
Before you start: what you will need
- National Insurance number for you (and your partner, if applicable)
- Details of income: State Pension, other pensions, earnings, benefits
- Details of savings and investments
- Housing costs: rent, mortgage, service charges
- Bank or building society account details for payment
The three application routes
- By phone — the Pension Credit claim line, where an adviser fills in the form with you over the call
- By post — a paper form requested by phone or downloaded, then returned by mail
- Online — through the gov.uk Pension Credit claim service, if you are comfortable applying digitally
What happens after you apply
The DWP assesses your income and savings against the current thresholds and writes to confirm the decision. If awarded, payment is usually made every four weeks, backdated up to three months from your claim date where you were eligible during that period (see our guide on backdating).
Common reasons applications get delayed
- Missing or inconsistent income and savings figures
- Not declaring a change of circumstances that happened part-way through the backdating period
- Incomplete details about a partner’s income where a couple is being assessed jointly
Our upcoming guided application service
We are launching a guided Pension Credit application service soon, designed to help you gather the right information, avoid common mistakes, and get your claim in accurately the first time. Register your interest below to be one of the first people we contact when it launches, and check your eligibility for free right now while you wait.
You can always apply directly and for free — our service is there for people who would rather have it done for them.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a cost to apply for Pension Credit directly?
No, applying to the DWP directly by phone, post or online is completely free.
How long does a decision take?
Timescales vary, but the DWP aims to process most claims within a matter of weeks once all the required information has been provided.
Can someone else apply on my behalf?
Yes, a friend, family member or appointee can apply for you or help you through the process, particularly the phone route.
What if I make a mistake on the form?
You can contact the Pension Credit claim line to correct details on an existing claim; this is one of the reasons a guided application service can help reduce back-and-forth.
Check Your Eligibility — Free, Under 2 Minutes
Answer five quick questions for an honest, no-obligation view of whether Pension Credit could be relevant to you.
Check your eligibility for support
Five quick questions — a rough idea is all we need.
Are you already receiving Pension Credit?
Just to make sure we don't waste your time with questions you don't need.
Register Your Interest for Launch
Our guided Pension Credit application service isn’t live yet. Leave your details and we’ll contact you the moment it launches.